For nearly 50 years, the Transition School (TS) has provided an alternative to the one-size-fits-all model of education. It is a place where young, advanced learners can grow in ways traditional schools often struggle to support. TS students benefit from a rich legacy of advocacy and dedication, beginning with Halbert and Nancy Robinson—the founders and early leaders of the Robinson Center. Their work, along with the contributions of university scholars, administrators, TS staff, instructors, students, and alumni, has shaped a program recognized internationally as a model of excellence in specialized education for advanced learners.
Today, that commitment to innovation and individualized learning continues. TS remains the only program of its kind, challenging students to think differently and push beyond what they thought possible. Located on the University of Washington’s world-class campus, TS serves as a laboratory for innovative educational methods, creating a pathway to higher education for young students ready for university-level scholarship. From the beginning, TS has been more than just a stepping stone to college—it is a place where learning is dynamic, and education is an ongoing process of reflection and growth. TSers take ownership of their learning, developing the independence and resilience needed to thrive at the University of Washington. While traditional schools often rely on rigid hierarchies, we embrace a partnership model, giving students an active role in shaping their educational experience.
It’s natural to focus on the destination, but at TS, the journey itself is what matters most. Growth isn’t always linear—there will be challenges, setbacks, and small but meaningful triumphs along the way. Our students are not just mastering new material; they are discovering new ways of thinking and redefining what success means to them.
Eleanor Duckworth, in The Having of Wonderful Ideas, captures the spirit of this kind of learning:
“The more we help children to have their wonderful ideas and feel good about having them, the more likely it is that they will someday happen upon wonderful ideas that no one else has happened upon before.”
At TS, students explore their own limits and possibilities, gaining new perspectives on learning and growth. Our hope is that by the time they leave TS, they will have moved beyond conventional definitions of success. Instead, they will come to understand that success lies in their ability to reflect, to think in new ways about themselves and others, and to expand their imagination of what is possible. A TSer’s readiness for university isn’t measured by a checklist of achievements—it is found in their growing awareness of what they can do and where they want to go.
Welcome to the Transition School. Welcome to a reimagining of what is possible.
Chance Sims, Head of School